Curiosities 61

Costco membership comes with some obvious perks – namely, access to the retail chain and its food court.
But according to dozens of Costco workers who spoke with Business Insider, being a member doesn’t entitle you to do whatever you want.

While Costco made Glassdoor’s list of best places to work in 2017, employees still had several complaints about shoppers’ rude and inconvenient behavior.

Business Insider spoke to more than two dozen Costco employees about the things they want to tell members but can’t. Some of their responses focused on obvious problems, like members being mean and inconsiderate. But some of the tips were more instructive.

Americans spend, on average, $33,391 on their weddings, according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study. And that’s not even including the amount they spend on an engagement ring. The cost of a wedding depends on a wide variety of factors, including the amount of guests, the ceremony site, the time of year, the decor, and of course, the city that you decide to host the wedding in.

While there’s a current trend in hosting fewer guests, the average cost per guest is increasing, due to couples wanting to create a unique and memorable experience for all those involved, The Knot found.

The tradition of the bride’s family paying for the wedding isn’t rapidly changing. “On average, the bride’s parents contribute 45% (56% for high spenders) of the overall wedding budget; the bride and groom contribute 41% (28% for high spenders); and the groom’s parents contribute 13% (15% for high spenders),” says the study.

In some places across the US, the average wedding cost is much lower than the national average. In New Mexico, for example, the average wedding cost is almost half the national average at $17,584. But some places spend much more.

The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study looked into which cities and regions across Americans are shelling out the most cash for their big day. Click through to see the top 25 places where the average wedding cost is higher than the national average.

THE MONA LISA

Ever heard of it? The answer is most likely yes, considering it is the most famous painting in the world. The criminal, Vincenzo Perugia, was a handyman working at the Louvre, where the painting is displayed.

In 1911, he hid in a closet until the museum closed and then took off with it with two other handymen. It was finally recovered and returned to the Louvre in 1913 after Perugia attempted to sell it to an art dealer in Italy. This painting tops the list of the most expensive things ever stolen with a price tag of at least $2 billion.

HISTORY’S BIGGEST TAX CHEATS

There’s an old saying that the only two things you can’t avoid are death and taxes, but whoever said that clearly hasn’t been to the Grand Caymans. The reality is that, throughout history, people have found ways — legal and otherwise — to duck taxes.

Whether they hid assets in offshore bank accounts or organized an armed rebellion, some of history’s biggest tax cheats are an eclectic bunch and a reminder that one person’s tax cheat can just as easily be someone else’s revolutionary hero.

When it comes to living expenses, the truth is that most Americans live on a very thin margin. Seventy-eight percent of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck to make ends meet, according to CareerBuilder. The good news is that if you take a closer look at how you live, you’re likely to find many areas in which you can trim expenses and give yourself an extra buffer.

When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, you feel it.

“The Federal Reserve has its fingers in your pocketbook to a greater degree than the IRS,” says Michael Reese, a CFP professional in Traverse City, Michigan.

The Fed most recently raised rates in December and forecast that there will be multiple rate hikes in 2018, with the first one likely occurring at this week’s meeting.

The committee sets monetary policy, primarily by raising or lowering the Fed’s target for the federal funds rate, which is used as the benchmark for a range of consumer interest rates.

Here are seven ways the Fed affects your pocketbook.

Take action today. Quick, little improvements can have a big impact over time. Improve your spending with these tips on how to spend money wisely!

True, being an entrepreneur can be exhausting, lonely, frustrating and terrifying. But it’s worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears when you are pursuing your passion, turning your dream into a reality. These quotes will help you be motivated!

THEY HAVE GOOD DENTAL CARE

Your mother nagged you to brush your teeth for good reason! Poor dental hygiene when you’re young can lead to bacteria growth and eventually infections that can evolve into more serious health problems like gum disease, according to the American Dental Association.

KNOW THE CODE

President Donald Trump’s tax plan was touted by his camp and the Republican Party as a series of cuts to individual and corporate tax rates that would boost investment and economic growth, making America “win again like never, ever before.” But though the law reduces taxes for all income groups to start, bipartisan analyses of the plan’s fine print and long-term effects make clear some will be winning more than others